NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10619, 14 March 1896, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE.

(FBO3I OUB OWH COBRKSPONDENT.) London, January 31. ../,:: FROZEN MEAT. 1 regret to-say I am unable to give a favourable'iceounfi this week of the frozen meat trade.... There is no improvement.: The demand is of. the smallest, md pricej are generally weaker. A few of the best Canter^ bury sheep offered may bring 3|d per lb, but a far more common price is 3}d per lb; many are sold at :3^d per lb, and others at 3^d. per lb. According to the C.C. and D. Company : 'fThe poor quality and want of condition of much of the recent, shipments account ia great measure for the low prices. Dunedin and Southland meat sellß at 3|d to 3|d per lb if fairly bright,-.but the bulk ore stale and more or less-off colour.", North Island (Wellington and' Napier) mutton fetches 3d to 3£d'perlb, ewes 3£d to 2|d per ,Ib.' 'As showing' the slack demand, the estimateii deliveries of frozen mutton to Suiithfield last weak were 7000 carcases fewer than the preceding week, the decrease being chiefly, in New Zealand mutton, .bnt being shared in less degree by other classes. • . The only New Zealand lambs in the London I market,at present are last season's carcases, which have been stored either in,the colony or at Home, both, according to the C.C. and D. Company, being " equally state, bleached, and unaelling." The, mild, spring-like weather seems to have created a limited demand, and there have beea inquiries; for " new season's.^ A few. would doubtless command, fair prices, the stale lambs not meeting customers' requirements. Tho (best of lagt season's make Sd to s£d perlb; the culls, bleached and perished, ! about 4d per lb.' :.~* ■. . ' .'■ . '

' , | '.(..!,.. • WOOL SALES. This year's first series of wool sales closed j last evening. About 205,000 bales (including 37,000 from New Zealand) were available, of which 190,931 bales (including virtually all that from New Zealand) were offered* about 22,000 V remaining pver for future disposal. Some 105,000 bales have been bought for export, of ! which 21,000 bales are for America. Notwithstanding recent: political complications, which canaed much .anxiety, and. at first seemed likely to affeob the wool sales prejudicially, there has, on the contrary, been a continual improvement in wool prices, and the rise in New Zealand and Australian wools since January 1895 is no less than 30 per cent. This has been largely due to free American competition, and large American i purchases have been made in anticipation of j future alterations in the United States customs tariff which might affect both the raw material; and various manufactures. I noticed that the attendance of buyers from all quarters waa very numerous at the opening of the salsa, and included an unusually large number of American representatives, who operated with great spirit. The determined attitude of this section of consumers inspired the Continental and Home trades with confidence, and under the influence of general and well-sustained competition this market gradually hardened, until merino wools ruled in average 7£ per cent, in excess of December quotations; and this improvement was, with a few minor fluctuations, maintained to the' close of the Eeries jußt terminated. .'! ! : My attention is drawn by Messrs C. Balme and Co. to the fact that a prominent feature in the lnte sales has been the exceptionally keen j inquiry for merino lambs' wool, which, owing to the drought, is this season in small supply and I CBromnnda extreme rates. Fine-haired c'.othing wools, whether. in scoured or greasy condition, have also' realised very satisfactory price 3. Some change iB noticeable in the character of the demand for crossbred wool, the finer qualities attracting more attention from the trade than has been the case for some time past. The coarser descriptions, which were eagerly competed for at the opening of the auctions, have during their progress slightly lost ground, whilst the finest grades, following the course of the markets for merinos, now stand 5 per cent, above December rates. Scoured wools throughoutl have been somewhat neglected, values of all the best classes having been irregnlar and. disappointing. It is further remarked by the same brokers, that the new clip from the North Island of New Zealand has come to hand in very good order, being generally longer in staple and much lighter in grease than the previous season's growth. On the other hand, many of the brands from those districts of the South Island which suffered from the severe winter are immature and on the whole heavier than usual. ; ■ ' SHEEPSKINS. Yesterday was held the first public gale of woolled Bheepskius for the ' current year, the catalogued qualities comprising 4420, which included 1055 from New Zealand. Theatfcendance of buyers was barely so numerous ao usnal, and competition lacked animation. Full woollod merino 6kins and the finer qualities of crossbred skins realised about December prices, but all other descriptions sold irregularly and, on the average, 5 per cent, below December rates. As compared with December, prices for all classes may be quoted at from par to per lb lower. DAIKI PRODUCE, There is not much that is fresh to record as to tho butter market. The C.C. and D. Company report as follows on the month's experiences, which praoticolly stand good up to this evening =7-" There has been a briak'demand for Australian and New Zealand butters during the month, especially for fine to finest grades; in fact, many parcels of butter have been sold considerably above their value and within the range of 102s, owrrig to the dearth of this class, and to preference being given. to the colonial. There has not been so much Bpitit with operators for choicest goods at the higher rates, the prices being the hindrance; bat most firms are holding really choice goods' for prices quoted, and with reduced supplies there should be no difficulty in maintaining them for ft time." And Messrs Coey point out that when colonial butter gets out of ihe range of Is , retsil fclb© ■ d.CDi£tr\d riirninisbos enormously. Three or four times the quantity enn be placed weekly when prices are Id per lb less than at present.

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